This paper will explore the “identity crisis” of contemporary feminism by drawing on the perspectives of young women activists in contemporary Nicaragua. In a global context in which many young women indicate approval and support for what can be broadly defined as feminist values and goals, we draw on this case to examine why so many young women are uneasy with the label “feminist” as part of their individual and/or collective identity (see Aronson 2003, O’Neill, Gidengil and Young 2008). Is this trend indicative of a notable but temporary “quiet period” or does it suggest a more significant shift for the future of “gender conscious” social movements? Is the future of feminism in reframing the feminist movement’s future possibilities and participants (as suggested in Emma’s Watson’s recent launch of the “He for She” campaign) or is it about moving towards new concepts and dialogue that are free from the framings and constraints of the past (as suggested by activist Malala Yousafzai’s avoidance of the term feminism). What are the risks and opportunities that come with rejecting and/or reframing the “f” word?
